About this experience
ALZHIR is an abbreviation coined by the prisoners themselves. It stands for 'Akmolinsk Camp for Wives of Traitors of the Motherland'. It housed the wives of arrested and executed 'enemies of the people'. You will learn about their daily lives, how long the camp existed, when it closed, and whose efforts turned it into a museum.
What to Expect
A Vivid History Lesson
We will thoroughly explore the territory of the former camp. You will see the Stalin-era train carriage for transporting exiles, the barbed wire of those times, the guard tower, and the barracks where women lived. Then you will visit the modern museum building, shaped like a cone. You will walk through halls revealing the tragic history of the camp and watch a short documentary film 'The Bitter Cold of ALZHIR'.
Remembering the Past
You will appreciate the memorial objects dedicated to the camp's inmates: the Arch of Grief, the Wall of Memory with the names of seven thousand women, and granite plaques installed by embassies of different countries in honor of their compatriots. Additionally, I will show you the 'Tears' column and two sculptural compositions that speak for themselves: 'Despair and Helplessness' and 'Struggle and Hope'.
Organizational Details
- The museum is located 40 km from Astana. Transportation is included in the price.
- Entrance tickets are paid separately: 2700 KZT for adults, 2000 KZT for children. Film screening costs 500 KZT per person, audio guide - 1500 KZT.
- Please note that a museum guide will conduct the tour for a group of up to 5 people. If there are fewer of you, the museum will provide an audio guide for each person or you will join a group tour in the museum.
